Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Apr - May 2020
With Easter on the horizon, we celebrate the arrival of spring! With an interview with chef James Martin, a host of seasonal recipes, travel inspiration, what's on and home renovation inspiration, this issue is a glorious read - perfect with a cuppa and a hot cross bun!
With Easter on the horizon, we celebrate the arrival of spring! With an interview with chef James Martin, a host of seasonal recipes, travel inspiration, what's on and home renovation inspiration, this issue is a glorious read - perfect with a cuppa and a hot cross bun!
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Glorious walks from the Highbullen Hotel, Devon<br />
STYLISH Staycations<br />
Whether you want the buzz of the city or a<br />
complete country retreat, here are our pick of<br />
UK staycations...<br />
the best of the city <strong>and</strong> west end at<br />
THE STRAND PALACE, LONDON<br />
Having welcomed guests since 1909, the Str<strong>and</strong> Palace is surrounded by<br />
the best London has to offer - located just minutes from Covent Garden.<br />
Having recently undergone a large-scale multi million pound renovation,<br />
myself <strong>and</strong> my partner decided to tie in a spot of winter shopping/<br />
sightseeing in with a stay in what is most definitely the heart of London.<br />
The Str<strong>and</strong> Palace creates a fabulous impression the minute you meet the<br />
doorman! The front entrance, lobby <strong>and</strong> reception are one large, bright,<br />
open spaced hub, featuring art deco influences that create a very relaxed<br />
<strong>and</strong> sophisticated atmosphere. We checked in <strong>and</strong> made our way up to<br />
our room, which was a tranquil, comforting retreat from the hussle <strong>and</strong><br />
bustle of the street below.<br />
It is at this stage that I feel I must confess: I am a bit of a tourist when it<br />
comes to London. In the past I have found myself booking into hotels that<br />
seem to be on the other side of the city in location to all the spots I wished<br />
to visit, <strong>and</strong> although there’s the tube, it’s still nice to be situated near<br />
the action. This is what makes The Str<strong>and</strong> Palace so perfect. Its location<br />
is brilliant - right in the heart of the West End, <strong>and</strong> with Covent Garden<br />
a mere two minutes away you really have got it all on your doorstep.<br />
I couldn’t believe our luck when a trip to The National Portrait Gallery<br />
took....seven minutes on foot!<br />
We made our way back to the hotel after a spot of lunch, opting for the<br />
pre-theatre menu which is brilliant value for money if you are trying to<br />
keep costs down. Pre 7pm, you can indulge with 2 courses for £20, so<br />
we tucked into some crispy lime squid, followed by fish <strong>and</strong> chips, with a<br />
lovely light batter. All washed down with a bottle of red. Delightful!<br />
The city felt like ours for the taking! We took ourselves off for a stroll around<br />
Covent Garden, closely followed by a visit to a couple of ‘proper’ London<br />
pubs. If you are after a weekend away in the city <strong>and</strong> want to make London<br />
your own, The Str<strong>and</strong> Palace offers a truly unbeatable location.<br />
Sam Norris | str<strong>and</strong>palacehotel.co.uk, rooms from £175 per night<br />
escape to the country at<br />
UPPER TETCHWICK<br />
HOUSE, NR AYLESBURY<br />
There is surely no better ointment for the weary<br />
soul than a weekend in pristine countryside<br />
with your closest friends. I found that sense of<br />
reatreat at the beautiful Upper Tetchwick House,<br />
booked through holidaycottages.co.uk.<br />
With a whole host of different holiday<br />
accommodation options to suit couples, families<br />
<strong>and</strong> large or small parties, holidaycottages.co.uk<br />
was the perfect site through which to book our<br />
little staycation. We settled on Upper Tetchwick<br />
House, which sleeps 12.<br />
In a rural location on the outskirts of Aylesbury,<br />
the property is a home away from home - if your<br />
home is a resplendent country pad complete<br />
with six bedrooms, a swimming pool, a billiards<br />
room <strong>and</strong> a duck pond, with far reaching views<br />
across the countryside! It’s a house that would<br />
cater in any season - with a huge garden <strong>and</strong><br />
pool for the warmer months <strong>and</strong> a wonderful<br />
wood burning stove when the chill sets in.<br />
The whole process was easy as anything -<br />
meaning we all felt immediately on holiday - that<br />
was in part thanks to the lovely locally-sourced<br />
welcome hamper waiting on the counter.<br />
The house had the added benefit of being dog<br />
friendly too, meaning my pooches didn’t miss<br />
out on any of the holiday action.<br />
Katie Thomson | holidaycottages.co.uk,<br />
a three night stay costs £1,568 total<br />
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